The Mahavishnu Orchestra was a jazz-rock fusion group from New York, United… Read Full Bio ↴The Mahavishnu Orchestra was a jazz-rock fusion group from New York, United States, that debuted in 1970 and dissolved in 1976, reuniting briefly from 1984 to 1987.
In its first version, the band was led by "Mahavishnu" John McLaughlin on acoustic and electric guitars, with Billy Cobham on drums, Rick Laird on electric and acoustic bass, Jan Hammer on electric and acoustic piano, and Jerry Goodman on violin. The group is best known for their two most popular albums: The Inner Mounting Flame (1971) and Birds of Fire (1973).
From 1974 to 1976, personnel included Jean-Luc Ponty on violin, Narada Michael Walden on drums and vocals, Gayle Moran on vocals and keyboards, and Ralph Armstrong on bass, among others. This second incarnation of the group explored orchestral arrangements, as well as more mainstream funk and R&B grooves added to the mix.
This group was considered an important pioneer in the jazz fusion movement that was founded by Miles Davis. McLaughlin and Cobham met while performing and recording with Davis. McLaughlin was also influenced in his conception of the band by his studies with Indian guru Sri Chinmoy, who encouraged him to take the name "Mahavishnu".
McLaughlin had particular ideas for the instrumentation of the group, in keeping with his highly original concept of genre-blending in composition. He particularly wanted a violinist. As the group evolved, McLaughlin adopted what became his trademark double-neck guitar (six-string and twelve-string), and Hammer added a Moog synthesiser, which enabled him to bend notes, mimicking the phrasing of McLaughlin's guitar.
Their musical style was an unprecedented blending of genres: they combined the high-volume electrified rock sound that had been pioneered by Jimi Hendrix, complex rhythms in unusual time signatures that reflected McLaughlin's interest in Indian classical music as well as funk, an improvisational concept that was rooted in jazz as well as Indian music, and some harmonic influence from European classical music. The group's early music was entirely instrumental; their later albums had songs which sometimes featured R&B or even gospel/hymn styled vocals. In the aforementioned two albums, though, the group goes from this intense fusion of upbeat genres (the best example of which is "Noonward Race") to very serene tunes such as "A Lotus on Irish Streams" and "Thousand Island Park", which are pieces for acoustic guitar, piano, and violin; or from low-key to extremely busy in a single piece, such as "Open Country Joy".
In its first version, the band was led by "Mahavishnu" John McLaughlin on acoustic and electric guitars, with Billy Cobham on drums, Rick Laird on electric and acoustic bass, Jan Hammer on electric and acoustic piano, and Jerry Goodman on violin. The group is best known for their two most popular albums: The Inner Mounting Flame (1971) and Birds of Fire (1973).
From 1974 to 1976, personnel included Jean-Luc Ponty on violin, Narada Michael Walden on drums and vocals, Gayle Moran on vocals and keyboards, and Ralph Armstrong on bass, among others. This second incarnation of the group explored orchestral arrangements, as well as more mainstream funk and R&B grooves added to the mix.
This group was considered an important pioneer in the jazz fusion movement that was founded by Miles Davis. McLaughlin and Cobham met while performing and recording with Davis. McLaughlin was also influenced in his conception of the band by his studies with Indian guru Sri Chinmoy, who encouraged him to take the name "Mahavishnu".
McLaughlin had particular ideas for the instrumentation of the group, in keeping with his highly original concept of genre-blending in composition. He particularly wanted a violinist. As the group evolved, McLaughlin adopted what became his trademark double-neck guitar (six-string and twelve-string), and Hammer added a Moog synthesiser, which enabled him to bend notes, mimicking the phrasing of McLaughlin's guitar.
Their musical style was an unprecedented blending of genres: they combined the high-volume electrified rock sound that had been pioneered by Jimi Hendrix, complex rhythms in unusual time signatures that reflected McLaughlin's interest in Indian classical music as well as funk, an improvisational concept that was rooted in jazz as well as Indian music, and some harmonic influence from European classical music. The group's early music was entirely instrumental; their later albums had songs which sometimes featured R&B or even gospel/hymn styled vocals. In the aforementioned two albums, though, the group goes from this intense fusion of upbeat genres (the best example of which is "Noonward Race") to very serene tunes such as "A Lotus on Irish Streams" and "Thousand Island Park", which are pieces for acoustic guitar, piano, and violin; or from low-key to extremely busy in a single piece, such as "Open Country Joy".
The Dance Of Maya
Mahavishnu Orchestra Lyrics
Instrumental
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@dnew47
first "verse" - the secret of life is revealed. the most unbelievable set of widely spaced, slightly off, rhythmically strange arpeggios ever. but .. it makes sense and sounds beautiful
second "verse" - the drummer hops on and goes straight to Mt. Olympus to join John. you call that the secret of life? THIS is the secret of life. this actually makes me laugh when I hear it, it's so amazing. and you could play this for 1000 drummers, play the first part, stop it and say - what do you think the drummer is gonna play? no one will get it.
third "verse" - the "melody". omg this is in the wrong key, ice-pick sharp, brittle, jarring, and ... incredibly great.
then around 4:00, here's Johnny! -- John comes in and plays his usual incandescent guitar.
then the blues lick played in unison and ... the main theme comes back underneath. takes my breath away. I'm out of superlatives for the brilliance of this music.
@billlawlor4858
Saw John McLauglin in Philly. He came out dressed in white, stopped in the middle of the stage, bowed and held the bow for about a minute, then raised up and began with this piece which went into other music for ninety minutes without stopping. I didn't do any dope that night for sure. I was in outaspace on the edge of the galaxy on my own planet. Something special indeed!
@anthonyfesta1224
Bill Lawlor I seen Mahavishnu Birds Of Fire Tour and Visions of The Emerald Beyond tour Jeff Beck opened/Blow by Blow. Seen John with The fourth dimension twice last with The Meeting of The Spirts Tour w/ Jimmy Herring. Something Special Indeed!
@GeorgeTyerbyter
Was that the night Mahavishnu Orchestra opened for Frank Zappa at the Spectrum? I was there!
@secondsightcinema3957
@Anthony Festa: I saw that Birds of Fire / Blow by Blow tour in Huntsville Texas. Absolutely one of the best guitar shows ever. Brilliant.
@connellymeister
That such power, innovation and creativity could come from a place of profound silence is the lesson I take from this example.
@connellymeister
@GLT Heard of that tour…
@dnew47
the distorted, wah-wah arpeggio opening of the dance of maya is one of the most amazing sounding things ever recorded. its improbability and unexpected yet beautiful turns seem to suggest that the secret of life has been discovered. then for the second run-through, the drums come in. billy cobham sounds as though he's drunk, falling down, playing backwards -- what? and, it works magnificently! even more unexpected, it says to me in crocodile dundee fashion, "you call that the secret of life? THIS is the secret of life!"
@Tony_Williams_Right_Hand
Yee man. And then Johnny Boy goes into sage mode around 3:10 and breaks the 4th wall
@kareniuliano3631
Love it
@schifoso5591
So do you like the song?